5
Primary Production
HONG KONG's primary producers tend to be overshadowed by the spectacular successes that have been made in the industrial sphere, but this relatively small group of workers is playing an important role in the development of the territory. Their resourcefullness is amply illustrated by the fact that they have turned their land into intensive farming areas producing a remarkable variety of foodstuffs.
The farmers have also taken up the challenge posed by the dwindl- ing areas now available for intensive cultivation, by the introduction of new methods and better land management, resulting in higher production from existing or smaller plots.
ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICES
The Agriculture and Fisheries Department concerns itself with optimum land utilisation and provides technical, extension and advisory services to farmers. It also deals with the economic, social and technological development of Hong Kong fisheries, especially those aspects which directly involve the fishermen, and the adminis- trative organisation of co-operative societies of all types. The con- servation of water and soil, through afforestation of bare, eroded hillsides and catchment areas, is also an important aspect of the department's work. Afforestation is principally undertaken by the department and private afforestation is relatively unimportant. The New Territories Administration is responsible for land tenure and certain aspects of land development in the New Territories.
Research programmes of the department extend to and include crop and animal husbandry as well as fisheries. On government farms, experiments continue into improving the quality and yield per acre of strains of local vegetables and flowers. Although, results were generally satisfactory, the 1971 crop rotation trials on rice fields were badly affected by typhoons. A summer strain of Chinese kale was selected and multiplied for distribution to farmers. To improve qual- ity in the field of animal husbandry, the department supplies farmers with breeding stock of pigs and poultry and also provides an artificial insemination service for pigs.